Basic Service Pack Information

Periodically-it's supposed to be every 12 months but in practice it's less often-Microsoft gathers all the important updates, recommended updates, and hotfixes, tests them extensively, and releases them as a service pack (SP). Some service packs are a complete, cumulative set of fixes and additions made since the initial release of an OS, whereas others are incremental and can depend on the installation of a prior service pack. You can obtain service packs on media (discs) or download them from the Microsoft Download Center.

You might wonder whether you really need to install service packs, because you probably install the important updates that Windows 7 downloads and informs you of from time to time. The answer is emphatically yes, for two reasons. First, service packs fix those annoying but minor bugs that you may not even realize are there-that odd crash every other week, or that weird sound that Media Player makes once in a while. Service packs can also include numerous performance improvements and new features. Second, application programs will eventually appear that require a certain service pack level to run correctly. Windows evolves, so you need to keep up. Those two reasons alone are enough to warrant installing any service pack.

Here are some other things that you should know about service packs:

• They're either incremental or cumulative. An incremental service pack usually requires the installation of a previous service pack, if applicable. A cumulative service pack includes the old service pack(s) and more.
• Starting about the same time that Microsoft releases a service pack to the public, new computers purchased from major vendors should come with the service pack preinstalled. (At least, it should be an option. If you're buying a new computer, ask for the latest version.) To check the current service pack level of your Windows 7 computer, open your System Information screen.
• Shortly after Microsoft releases a service pack to the public, retail versions of the OS will include the service pack. If you are shopping for additional copies of an OS for upgrading existing PCs or for installation on new PCs, be sure to buy versions that include the latest service pack. A sticker or note on the package indicates whether a service pack is incorporated.
• It's likely the procedure for installation of previous service packs will be similar for subsequent service packs as well.